Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder sidesteps gay marriage issue

MACKINAC ISLAND (AP) -- Gov. Rick Snyder is sidestepping the debate over whether gay marriage should be allowed in Michigan.

In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press during a Mackinac Island conference, Snyder declined to take a stand on a bill introduced this week in the state Senate that would repeal a ban on gay marriage in the Michigan Constitution. Voters passed the ban in 2004.

The first-term Republican governor says the measure should go through the normal legislative process.

Snyder says as governor he's obligated to respect the state Constitution. But he says if voters decided to change the provision on gay marriage, he'd respect that as well.

Advertisement

Asked about his personal position on the issue, Snyder says he hasn't gotten involved because he wants to focus on "jobs and kids."